This study examined associations among family type (single-earner vs, dual-
earner families of sons and daughters), parent sensitivity, marital adjustm
ent, infant emotionality, infant-mother attachment, and infant-father attac
hment. Participants included 77 families who were observed in the laborator
y at 4, 12, and 13 months. Similar to several previous studies, results ind
icated that boys from dual-earner families were more likely to have insecur
e attachments with their fathers but not with their mothers. In addition, f
athers of sons in dual-earner households were less sensitive at 4 months an
d reported less affection in their marriages than did fathers in several ot
her groups; sons were more negatively emotional toward mothers whereas infa
nts in dual-earner families were more negatively emotional toward fathers d
uring still-face at 4 months. Finally, family type moderated the effect tha
t maternal sensitivity had on infant-mother attachment and the effect that
infant negative emotionality had on infant-father attachment.